CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 14,139	$ 12,395
Accounts receivable, net	122,340	120,016
Income taxes receivable	4,174	2,669
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	45,175	41,787
Total current assets	185,828	176,867
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,806,945	1,835,878
Intangibles and other assets:
Investments	113,197	112,717
Goodwill	1,035,274	1,035,274
Customer relationships, net	151,407	164,069
Other intangible assets	10,557	10,557
Other assets	51,925	54,915
Total assets	3,355,133	3,390,277
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	19,902	30,936
Advance billings and customer deposits	47,224	45,710
Accrued compensation	56,105	57,069
Accrued interest	14,945	7,874
Accrued expense	73,776	75,406
Current portion of long term debt and finance lease obligations	25,722	27,301
Total current liabilities	237,674	244,296
Long-term debt and finance lease obligations	2,209,748	2,250,677
Deferred income taxes	174,489	173,027
Pension and postretirement benefit obligations	293,145	302,296
Other long-term liabilities	86,418	72,730
Total liabilities	3,001,474	3,043,026
Shareholders' equity:
Common Stock	731	720
Other shareholders' equity	346,482	340,161
Total Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. shareholders' equity	347,213	340,881
Noncontrolling interest	6,446	6,370
Total shareholders' equity	353,659	347,251	$ 376,164	$ 415,654
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,355,133	3,390,277
Eliminations
Current assets:
Income taxes receivable	(8,441)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(89)
Total current assets	(8,530)
Intangibles and other assets:
Investments in subsidiaries	(7,120,461)	(7,084,977)
Advances due to/from affiliates, net	(3,296,654)	(3,296,300)
Deferred income taxes	(90,727)	(92,108)
Total assets	(10,516,372)	(10,473,385)
Current liabilities:
Accrued expense	(89)
Income tax payable	(8,441)
Total current liabilities	(8,530)
Advances due to/from affiliates, net	(3,296,654)	(3,296,300)
Deferred income taxes	(90,727)	(92,108)
Total liabilities	(3,395,911)	(3,388,408)
Shareholders' equity:
Common Stock	(47,411)	(47,411)
Other shareholders' equity	(7,073,050)	(7,037,566)
Total Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. shareholders' equity	(7,120,461)	(7,084,977)
Total shareholders' equity	(7,120,461)	(7,084,977)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	(10,516,372)	(10,473,385)
Parent | Reportable legal entity
Current assets:
Income taxes receivable	8,609	1,812
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	89
Total current assets	8,698	1,812
Intangibles and other assets:
Investments in subsidiaries	3,553,744	3,547,466
Deferred income taxes	81,425	86,447
Other assets		1,506
Total assets	3,643,867	3,637,231
Current liabilities:
Accrued expense		50
Total current liabilities		50
Advances due to/from affiliates, net	3,296,654	3,296,300
Total liabilities	3,296,654	3,296,350
Shareholders' equity:
Common Stock	731	720
Other shareholders' equity	346,482	340,161
Total Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. shareholders' equity	347,213	340,881
Total shareholders' equity	347,213	340,881
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,643,867	3,637,231
Subsidiary Issuer | Reportable legal entity
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	14,136	12,387
Accounts receivable, net	76	78
Income taxes receivable	4,006
Total current assets	18,218	12,465
Intangibles and other assets:
Investments	9,064	8,863
Investments in subsidiaries	3,549,345	3,520,346
Advances due to/from affiliates, net	2,238,012	2,289,433
Deferred income taxes	9,302	5,661
Total assets	5,823,941	5,836,768
Current liabilities:
Accrued interest	14,518	7,523
Accrued expense	3,050	2,565
Current portion of long term debt and finance lease obligations	18,350	18,350
Total current liabilities	35,918	28,438
Long-term debt and finance lease obligations	2,195,775	2,235,609
Other long-term liabilities	38,504	25,255
Total liabilities	2,270,197	2,289,302
Shareholders' equity:
Other shareholders' equity	3,553,744	3,547,466
Total Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. shareholders' equity	3,553,744	3,547,466
Total shareholders' equity	3,553,744	3,547,466
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 5,823,941	5,836,768
Guarantors
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
Ownership interest (as a percent)	100.00%
Guarantors | Reportable legal entity
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 3	8
Accounts receivable, net	115,840	112,415
Income taxes receivable		791
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	44,995	41,431
Total current assets	160,838	154,645
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,742,114	1,770,187
Intangibles and other assets:
Investments	104,133	103,854
Investments in subsidiaries	17,372	17,165
Goodwill	969,093	969,093
Customer relationships, net	151,407	164,069
Other intangible assets	1,470	1,470
Advances due to/from affiliates, net	940,841	893,394
Other assets	51,449	52,887
Total assets	4,138,717	4,126,764
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	19,902	30,936
Advance billings and customer deposits	45,890	44,436
Accrued compensation	55,288	56,356
Accrued interest	427	351
Accrued expense	69,609	71,659
Income tax payable	7,636
Current portion of long term debt and finance lease obligations	7,223	8,808
Total current liabilities	205,975	212,546
Long-term debt and finance lease obligations	13,946	15,001
Deferred income taxes	241,061	240,983
Pension and postretirement benefit obligations	278,279	285,832
Other long-term liabilities	47,130	46,656
Total liabilities	786,391	801,018
Shareholders' equity:
Common Stock	17,411	17,411
Other shareholders' equity	3,328,469	3,301,965
Total Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. shareholders' equity	3,345,880	3,319,376
Noncontrolling interest	6,446	6,370
Total shareholders' equity	3,352,326	3,325,746
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	4,138,717	4,126,764
Non-Guarantors | Reportable legal entity
Current assets:
Accounts receivable, net	6,424	7,523
Income taxes receivable		66
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	180	356
Total current assets	6,604	7,945
Property, plant and equipment, net	64,831	65,691
Intangibles and other assets:
Goodwill	66,181	66,181
Other intangible assets	9,087	9,087
Advances due to/from affiliates, net	117,801	113,473
Other assets	476	522
Total assets	264,980	262,899
Current liabilities:
Advance billings and customer deposits	1,334	1,274
Accrued compensation	817	713
Accrued expense	1,206	1,132
Income tax payable	805
Current portion of long term debt and finance lease obligations	149	143
Total current liabilities	4,311	3,262
Long-term debt and finance lease obligations	27	67
Deferred income taxes	24,155	24,152
Pension and postretirement benefit obligations	14,866	16,464
Other long-term liabilities	784	819
Total liabilities	44,143	44,764
Shareholders' equity:
Common Stock	30,000	30,000
Other shareholders' equity	190,837	188,135
Total Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. shareholders' equity	220,837	218,135
Total shareholders' equity	220,837	218,135
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 264,980	$ 262,899